Scientific instrumentation of the Radio-Astronomy-Explorer-2 satellite

Abstract

The RAE-2 spacecraft has been collecting radio astronomical measurements in the 25 kHz to 13 MHz frequency range from lunar orbit since June, 1973. A summary is given of the technical aspects of the program including the calibration, instrumentation and operation of the RAE-2 experiments. Performance of the experiments over the first 18 months of the flight is summarized and illustrated. Among the unique features of the RAE-2 is the capability to observe repeated lunar occultations of strong radio sources at very low frequencies.